Method and apparatus for making printing form sheets



July 7, 1964 w. RITZERFELD ETIAL 3,139,803

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTING FORM SHEETS Filed April 25. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l IIYVEWfOisZ' July 7, 1964 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,139,803

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTING FORM SHEETS Filed April 25, 1.961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 g5 39 a9 3 15 I6 2% y 1964 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,139,808

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTING FORM SHEETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 25. 1961 Inventor M W July 7, 1964 Filed April 25. 1961 W. RITZERFELD ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTING FORM SHEETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 u y 1964 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 08 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTING FORM SHEETS Filed April 25. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIVGWZ'U S' UALLL... (Cr 6 W 12.1

United States Patent 3,139,808 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTING FORM SHEETS Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Schorlemer Allee 14, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzensbader Strasse 21, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany Filed Apr. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 105,321 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 29 1960 4 Claims. (Cl. 9573) ened gelatin is formed in the emulsion, while the unexposed portion of the emulsions are hardened by the developing process. The unhardened gelatin image is brought into contact with a transfer sheet, for example a hectographic inked sheet, whereupon pressure and heat is applied. When the inked transfer sheet and the base sheet of the negative are separated, the unhardened image adheres to the transfer sheet and is transferred to the same, while the hardened gelatin remains on the base sheet of the negative. The transfer sheet carrying the negative gelatin image is brought into contact with a printing form sheet, which may consist of paper, metal or a synthetic material, and after about one minute, the printing form sheet is separated from the transfer sheet. The gelatin adheres to the printing form sheet, and separates from the transfer sheet, together with the inked layer of the same which also adheres to the gelatin negative, so that an inked negative image is transferred to the printing form sheet.

When a printing form is made in this manner, the difficulty arises that the respective two sheets, namely on one hand the negative and transfer sheet, and on the other hand the transfer sheet and the printing form sheet, must be brought into contact in an exactly aligned position, and directly before they are compressed by pressure rollers. An irregular contact between two sheets would cause wrinkling of one or both sheets. It is particularly important that the contact between each pairof sheets takes place only when the two sheets exactly register along their edges, since the arrangement of the text or of a picture on the newly made printing form must be exactly the same as the corresponding arrangement of the positive which is to be reproduced, or at least must be in a certain proportion thereto.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient apparatus capable of performing all operations required for making a printing form sheet from a photographic negative. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for making printing form sheets in which the text or picture is arranged on the printing form sheet in the same manner as it was arranged on the positive which is to be reproduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for accurately aligning two sheets, for example a negative and a transfer sheet, or a transfer sheet and a printing form, in superimposed positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for successively superimposing accurately aligned portions of two sheets, for example a negative and a transfer sheet, or a transfer sheet and a printing form sheet.

3,139,808 Patented July 7., 1964 "ice Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus in which all operations necessary for the making of a printing form sheet can be successively performed in a foolproof manner without requiring any experience of the operator.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention comprises a first guide means for a first sheet having a first outlet portion; a second guide means for a second sheet and having a second outlet portion located in close proximity to the first outlet portion; and transporting pressure roller means located adjacent to the first and second outlet portions.

A tank for a developing liquid is provided, and a third guide means for guiding a third sheet passes through the tank and has a third outlet portion located in close proximity with the second outlet portion and adjacent to the roller means.

The third sheet may be a negative having a developable coating which is developed in the tank. The developed negative is either superimposed on a transfer sheet passing over the outlet portion of a second guide means and pressed against the same by the pressure roller means, or is transported by the pressure roller means onto a guide member and toward other pressure rollers to be superimposed on a transfer sheet guided by fourth guide means before being pressed against the same by the pressure rollers.

In any event, the negative unhardened image is transferred to the transfer sheet, and if a printing form is supplied to the first guide means, and a transfer sheet to the second guide means, the transporting and pressure roller means superimpose the transfer sheet and the printing form sheet so that the inked image is transferred to the printing form.

Due to the fact that the outlet portions of the various guide means terminate in close proximity to each other and substantially in the bight of the respective pressure roller means, successive portions of the respective sheets are superimposed, and pressed against each other.

The alignment is particularly accurate, if one of the sheets, for example the transfer sheet is provided with a leading edge portion folded over along a fold line to form a flap. The respective other sheet, for example the printing form sheet, or the negative, is guided along its guide means at an angle to the transfer sheet, and in such a manner that its leading edges passes under the flap and abuts the fold line. In this manner, the leading edges of the two sheets are exactly aligned so that successive portions of the sheets can be superimposed and pressed against each other while the edges of the sheets exactly register.

In view of the above, it will be understood that the present invention relates to a method of making a printing form which comprises the steps of moving along a first path a sheet having a leading edge portion folded over along a fold line to form a flap; moving another sheet along a second path crossing the first path so that the leading edge of the other sheet passes under the flap and abuts the fold line; and pressing together the successively superimposed aligned portions of the two sheets.

In one embodiment of the invention, the guide means for the printing form, the guide means for the transfer sheet, and the guide means for the negative are disposed in angularly displaced positions and have outlet portions which are located directly adjacent each other and in the bight of pressure roller means. During a first operation, the negative and transfer sheet are run through the machine, and during a second operation, the transfer sheet and the printing form are run through the machine. Each pair of sheets is pressed together by the pressure roller means. In order to permit easy access to the guide means of the transfer sheet, the guide means for the printing form is mounted for turning movement into a position spaced in greater angular distance from the guide means of the transfer sheet. The guide means for the transfer sheet is preferably shiftable to a position retracted from the pressure roller means, which again facilitates the insertion of the transfer sheet.

It is important that the operator can place his hand near the outlet portions of the guide means, since the transfer sheet is somewhat moist after having been separated from the negative, and consequently has a tendency to warp and form waves.

In another embodiment of the invention, the negative runs through the pressure roller means during the first operation, but is not combined with a transfer sheet at this point. Another guide means is provided for the transfer sheet which has an outlet portion extending to another pair of pressure rollers by which the negative and the transfer sheet are pressed together. The transfer sheet is then separated from the negative, and the printing form on the transfer sheet are run through another pair of guide means which terminate at the first mentioned pair of roller means. A guide member is provided behind such first pair of roller means to guide the superimposed sheets to a discharged position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

1 FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a detail of FIG. 3 shown on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to FIG. 5 but showing another operational step.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a base plate 1 supports two walls 2 and 3, and a detachable housing 4 including two side walls and a top part. A tank 5 containing a developing liquid 6 is detachably mounted on supporting brackets of base plate 1. The top part of housing 4 carries a transparent supporting plate 40 of semi-circular configuration which extends about a lamp 42. A flexible cover 41 can be pressed against the top face of supporting member 40, and is opaque. A sheet carrying a light sensitive emulsion can be pressed by cover 41 against supporting means 40, and exposed. Guide means 10, 11 and 13 and input guide 9, and an output guide 14 are mounted on housing 14. A motor 15, controlled by a switch 15a, is mounted on base 1. A pair of input transporting rollers 17, 18, a

pair of transporting pressure roller means 19 and 20, and a pair of transporting pressure rollers 21 and 22 are mounted on lateral walls 2 and 3. A guide means comprising a pair of spaced grid members 7 and 8 extends between the pair of rollers 17 and 18 and a pair of rollers 19 and 2t) and through the tank 5. A guide member 12 has an input portion located adjacent rollers 19 and 2t), and an output portion located adjacent the output portion of guide means 13 and in the region of the rollers 21 and 22. Motor 15 drives through belt and pulley means 16, 24, 25, 26, 27 the rollers 18 and 20, and through belt and pulley means 28, 29 the roller 22.

Roller 22 is connected to a gear 32 and drives roller 21 through a meshing gear 33. Rollers 19 and 20 are connected by meshing gears 30 and 31.

Roller 22 is provided with an inner electric heating resistance 23.

The outlet portions of the guide means 7, 1t and 11 extend at acute angles to each other. The guide member 12 extends at an acute angle to the guide means 13. Behind the pair of transporting pressure roller means 19, 20 a guide member 38 is mounted for turning movement between the position illustrated in solid lines, and the retracted position shown in broken lines. A sheet transported by the roller means 19, 20 will be discharged in upward direction when guide member 38 is in the position shown in solid lines. When the guide member 38 is retracted, a sheet transported by roller means 19, 26 will pass onto the guide member 12 and move toward the rollers 21, 22. Guide member 38 is operated by lever 39.

This apparatus is operated as follows:

A foil 34 having a light-sensitive coating is placed with its coating in contact with the image side of a positive original, and pressed against the semi-circular support 49 by the cover 41 which is an elastic, flexible, opaque blanket. Lamp 42 is switched on by switch 43, so that the light sensitive emulsion is exposed. Lamp 42 is switched off,

the exposed negative removed, and separated from the positive. Thereupon motor 15 is started so that all rollers start to rotate, and the electric heating resistance 23 is connected until roller 22 is warm.

The exposed negative 34 is placed on the inlet guide 9 with its coating facing upward, and is transported by transporting rollers 17 and 18 into the guide means formed by the grids 7, 8 so that the negative is developed by the developing liquid 6 in tank 5 whereby the parts of the exposed image remain soft, while the other parts of the negative are hardened by the liquid 6. A transfer sheet 35 having an inked layer is placed on guide means 13 with the inked layer facing down. Transfer sheet 35 has a folded-over edge portion 36 on the side provided with the inked layer. Guide means 13 and guide member 12 are arranged at an angle to each other so that the fold line of the folded-over edge portion 36 is located in the plane of the guide member 12. The guide member 38 is retracted to the position shown in broken lines, and when the negative 34 is transported by the roller means 13, 20, it moves along guide member 12 until its leading edge passes between the folded-over edge portion 36 and the mainportion of the transfer sheet 35 and abuts the fold line at the leading end of a transfer sheet. The transfer sheet is thus pushed into the bight of roller means 21, 22 which superimpose, press together and transport successive leading portions of the transfer sheet and of the negative in an exactly aligned and registering position. Due to the pressure between the heated roller 22 and roller 21, the unhardened parts of the gelatin emulsion coating of the negative 34 are transferred to the transfer sheet and adhere to the same. The superim posed sheets are discharged to guide means 14, and the operator separates the two sheets. After separation, the unhardened parts of the gelatin emulsion adhere to the transfer sheet, while the hardened portions remain on the foil base of the negative 34.

The transfer sheet with the image thereon is now placed on guide means 10 with its folded-over edge portion 36 facing upward so that the fold line thereof is located in the plane defined by the guide means 11. A printing form sheet 37 is placed on the guide means 11, and advanced until its leading edge passes between the foldedover edge portion 36 and the main portion of the transfer sheet, and abuts the fold line of the transfer sheet 35. Immediately thereafter, pressure roller means 19, 2t) grip the leading superimposed portions of the two sheets, and superimpose successive leading portions of the printing form of a transfer sheet. Before this operation, guide member 38 has been placed in the position shown in solid lines so that the superimposed sheets 34 and 35 are discharged in upward direction, as indicated in FIG. 1. When the two sheets are completely discharged, they are separated, and now the negative image, together with an inked coating which separates from the transfer sheet, adheres to the printing form. In this manner, the printing form has now the desired and colored image.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is structurally different, but capable of carrying out the same method as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

A base plate 1 supports a pair of walls 2 and 3 which are connected by rods 45 and 46. A support 47 is secured to walls 2 and 3 which are fixedly connected to base plate 1. A substantially U-shaped housing 48 is detachably mounted on base plate 1 and has openings for the guide means by which sheets are supplied and discharged to the operators.

The support 47 supports a tank 5 with a developing liquid. A guide means comprising a pair of grid members 7 and 8 Which advantageously consist of a synthetic material, or of a stainless steel, passes through tank 5 and has an outlet portion located in the proximity of a pair of transporting and pressure roller means 62 and 63 and outside of tank 5. The inlet portion of guide means 7, 8 is located in the region of a pair of feeding rollers 60 and 61. An inlet guide means 9 has a pair of lateral Walls and an outlet portion in the form of a feeding hopper for guiding a negative 34 toward feeding rollers 60, 61. Guide means 9 has a pair of arcuate brackets resting on pins 32 fixed on the side walls 2 and 3. A second guide means 56 has lateral guide brackets 77 provided with slots into which pins 54 project. The inlet end of guide means 56 has cam means 78 resting on guide pins 79. Consequently, guide means 56 can be retracted from the illustrated position in which its outlet portion is located in close proximity to the outlet portion of guide means 7 and to the bight of transporting pressure roller means 62, 63.

A third guide means 57 is arranged angularly spaced from guide means 56, and has forked brackets turnably mounted on pin means 55. A lever 76 is mounted on a pin 53 and has recesses for engaging a pin 75 on guide means 57. When guide means 57 is pivoted to the higher position shown in dash and dot lines, it can be arrested by another recess in lever 56.

A discharge guide member 14 is arranged on the output side of roller 62, 63. Motor 15 drives a pulley 16 which drives pulleys 65 and 66 through a belt 64 to turn roller 62. Another belt 67 connects pulley 66 with a pulley 68 secured to the shaft of roller 60. A switch 73 controls the motor 15.

An exposed negative 34 is placed in the inlet guide member 9 with its emulsion facing upward, and guided through the hopper portion of guide 9 to the transporting rollers 60, 61, which transport the negative 34 through the guide means 7, 8 so that the negative is developed, and the unexposed portion hardened. As best seen in FIG. 5, a transfer sheet 35 having a bent-over leading edge portion 36 is placed on guide means 56 in a position in which it extends across the guide means 7, 8. The leading edge of the developed negative passes below flap 36 and abuts the fold line of transfer sheet 35 so that the same is pushed past a guide 80 into the bight of the transporting pressure roller means 62 and 63. The insertion of the transfer sheet 35 into guide means 56 is facilitated by retracting the guide means 56, and by pivoting guide means 57 to the higher position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. This permits the operator to place her hand close to the outlet portion of guide means 56 and to properly arrange the leading portion of the transfer sheet.

The arresting lever 76 secures the guide means 57, and is held in its arresting position by a spring 81 secured thereto and abutting a stop 82.

When the transfer sheet 35 is pressed against the negative 34 by the pressure roller means, the unhardened image is transferred from the negative to the transfer sheet, and when the two superimposed sheets are discharged over outlet guide 14, they can be separated with the image adhering to the transfer sheet 35. Roller 62 may be heated as described with reference to roller 22 of theembodiment of FIG. 1.

Switch 73 is operated to stop motor 15, and the rollers.

The separated transfer sheet is now again placed on guide means 56 which may be retracted during insertion, while guide means 57 may be raised. The folded-over edge portion 36 is this time arranged in an upwardly projecting position, as shown in FIG. 6. A printing form sheet 37 is placed on guide means 57 after the same has been lowered to its normal position, and when the printing form sheet 37 is advanced, its leading edge engages the fold line between flap 36 and the main portion of transfer sheet 35, and pushes the transfer sheet past the guides and 74 into the bight between rollers 62 and 63 which grip, superimpose, press together, and transport successive portions of the superimposed sheets until the same are discharged over outlet guide 14. p During the movement through the transporting rollers 62, 63, the leading edges are aligned, and the sheets register in a desired position.

When the discharged sheets are separated, the printing form carries the inked image Which adheres thereto, and thus the operation is completed.

It will be understood that each of the elements de scribed above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of methods and apparatus for making printing forms differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method and apparatus for exactly aligning a transfer sheet with other sheets during the making of the printing form, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the type described, comprising, in combination, a first guide means for a first printing form sheet and having a first outlet portion; a second guide means for a second transfer sheet, said second guide means being spaced from said first guide means and having a second outlet portion located in close proximity to said first outlet portion; and transporting pressure roller means located adjacent to said first and second outlet portions so that portions of said first and second sheets located between said first and second outlet portions and said roller means are superimposed, pressed against each other and transported by said roller means; a tank for a developing liquid; a third guide means for guiding a third light-sensitive sheet having a developable coating through said tank and having a third outlet portion located in close proximity with said second outlet portion and adjacent to said roller means; a pair of pressure rollers located spaced from said roller means, one of said rollers including heating means; a guide member extending between said roller means and said pressure rollers and having an inlet portion for receiving a third sheet transported by said roller means and an outlet portion for supplying the third sheet to said pressure rollers; a fourth guide means for said second sheet and having a fourth outlet portion located in close proximity with said outlet portion of said guide member so that said 7 pressure rollers superimpose portions of said second and third sheets, press the same against each other, and transport the same.

2. An apparatus of the type described, comprising, in combination, a first guide means for a first printing form sheet and having a first outlet portion; a second guide means for a second transfer sheet, said second guide means being spaced from said first guide means and having a second outlet portion located in close proximity to said first outlet portion; and transporting pressure roller means located adjacent to said first and second outlet portions so that portions of said first and second sheets located between said first and second outlet portions and said roller means are superimposed, pressed against each other and transported by said roller means; a tank for a developing liquid; at third guide means for guiding a third light-sensitive sheet having a developable coating through said tank and having a third outlet portion located in close proximity with said second outlet portion and adjacent to said roller means; a pair of pressure rollers located spaced from said roller means, one of said rollers including heating means; a guide member extending between said roller means and said pressure rollers and having an inlet portion for receiving a third sheet transported by said roller means and an outlet portion for supplying the third sheet to said pressure rollers; a movable guide located on the side of said roller means remote from said first and second guide portions and having a first position for discharging superimposed first and second sheets, and a second position for guiding the third sheet onto the inlet portion of said guide member; a fourth guide means for said second sheet and having a fourth outlet portion located in close proximity with said outlet portion of said guide member so that said pressure rollers superirnpose portions of said second and third sheets, press the same against each other, and transport the same.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and including means for supporting said third sheet; and illuminating means for exposing a third sheet located on said supporting means.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said supporting means is a transparent plate of semicircular configuration; and wherein said illuminating means is a lamp located at the center of curvature of said transparent plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 908,517 Sturtevant Ian. 5, 1909 2,290,478 Matlas July 21, 1942 2,536,604 Jagger Jan. 2, 1951 2,596,754 Yackel May 13, 1952 2,810,331 Grinten Oct, 22, 1957 2,925,025 Conner Feb. 16, 1960 2,946,272 Eisner July 26, 1960 2,966,108 Boger Dec. 27, 1960 2,995,085 Walkup Aug. 8, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 314,663 Switzerland Aug. 15, 1956 719,550 Great Britain Dec. 1, 1954 

1. AN APPARATUS OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST GUIDE MEANS FOR A FIRST PRINTING FORM SHEET AND HAVING A FIRST OUTLET PORTION; A SECOND GUIDE MEANS FOR A SECOND TRANSFER SHEET, SAID SECOND GUIDE MEANS BEING SPACED FROM SAID FIRST GUIDE MEANS AND HAVING A SECOND OUTLET PORTION LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID FIRST OUTLET PORTION; AND TRANSPORTING PRESSURE ROLLER MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTLET PORTIONS SO THAT PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHEETS LOCATED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTLET PORTIONS AND SAID ROLLER MEANS ARE SUPERIMPOSED, PRESSED AGAINST EACH OTHER AND TRANSPORTED BY SAID ROLLER MEANS; A TANK FOR A DEVELOPING LIQUID; A THIRD GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING A THIRD LIGHT-SENSITIVE SHEET HAVING A DEVELOPABLE COATING THROUGH SAID TANK AND HAVING A THIRD OUTLET PORTION LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH SAID SECOND OUTLET PORTION AND ADJACENT TO SAID ROLLER MEANS; A PAIR OF PRESSURE ROLLERS LOCATED SPACED FROM SAID ROLLER MEANS, ONE OF SAID ROLLERS INCLUDING HEATING MEANS; A GUIDE MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ROLLER MEANS AND SAID PRESSURE ROLLERS AND HAVING AN INLET PORTION FOR RECEIVING A THIRD SHEET TRANSPORTED BY SAID ROLLER MEANS AND AN OUTLET PORTION FOR SUPPLYING THE THIRD SHEET TO SAID PRESSURE ROLLERS; A FOURTH GUIDE MEANS FOR SAID SECOND SHEET AND HAVING A FOURTH OUTLET PORTION LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH SAID OUTLET PORTION OF SAID GUIDE MEMBER SO THAT SAID PRESSURE ROLLERS SUPERIMPOSE PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD SHEETS, PRESS THE SAME AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND TRANSPORT THE SAME. 